Retraining brain pathways to boost thinking after a mild head injury
Official title: Retraining neural pathways improves cognitive skills after a mild traumatic brain injury
Funded at Perception Dynamics Institute · NIH-11406497 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinical trial tests a brain-training program to improve thinking and memory in people who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Perception Dynamics Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Encinitas, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,005,434 |
| NIH project number | 2R44NS132718-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406497 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a mild traumatic brain injury who experience cognitive difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not experience meaningful improvement or may not complete the training due to time commitment or other factors.
What this research studies
If you’ve had a mild brain injury, this study aims to see whether a cognitive training program called PATH+DM, delivered over several weeks, can improve visual timing and working memory. Participants will go through different training schedules to find the most effective dose and whether gains last over time. The trial is designed to understand how perceptual and cognitive problems after mTBI respond to targeted mental exercises. Results could help tailor personalized brain-training approaches for people recovering from concussions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience better memory, attention, and daily functioning after an mTBI.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Phase I results suggested potential benefits from targeted cognitive training, with ongoing research to confirm efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
Perception Dynamics Institute
Encinitas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawton, Teri a — Perception Dynamics Institute
- Study coordinator: Lawton, Teri a
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.